MARY SENIUK

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MARY SENIUK Mary Seniuk (Karaim) passed away peacefully on Friday, April 29, 2011, at Holy Family Nursing Home in her 96th year. Mary was born on August 10, 1915 in Dry River, Manitoba in the Municipality of Mossey River to Bazyl and Veronica (Beyko) Karaim. She was the eighth of 14 children (seven boys and seven girls). She married Michael Seniuk in 1936, and both farmed until 1977 when they retired to the village of Ethelbert. Michael passed away in 1985 and in 1995, Mary moved to St. George's Senior Apartments in Dauphin. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, her sisters and brothers-in-law: Katherine (Adam) Romaniuk, Minnie (Frank) Halinsky, Margaret (John) Sawchyn, Jessie (Victor) Malcheski, Edward Dirr; brothers and sisters-in-law: Eugene (Valerie), Walter (Jean), Fred (Jean), Steve (Lee), Nick (Kay), Tony; a brother in infancy, and her in-laws; Michael Sr. and Apolonia Seniuk, John (Margaret) Seniuk, Peter (Dora) Seniuk, Bill (Jean) Seniuk, Mary (Nick) Hrushka, and Sister Demetrius, SSMI. Mary is survived by her children: Vicky (Brian) Adams, Edward, Andrew (Pat), Ted (Lenore); grandchildren: David, Kathy and Allison Adams, Matthew and Justin Seniuk, Eric and Janet Seniuk; great-grandchildren: Kari, Joel and Dayna Erlendson. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law Nellie and John Chorney; sister Carol Dirr, and many nieces, nephews and extended family. Mary will be remembered by her infectious smile, her big heart, her humility, and her tough work ethic. She was gifted with exceptional culinary skills and her art of cooking was well known throughout the Ethelbert area and beyond. She was in great demand as a cook for many weddings, socials, funerals and parish and community functions, always willing to share her expertise with others. She was extremely generous and no one left her home without a care package - a jar of farm cream, home made butter and cheese, chickens, eggs or produce from her large garden. Mary was a meticulous housekeeper and a perfectionist in everything she did, be it sewing, cooking, gardening, baking ritual breads, needlework, etc. The agricultural cycle on the farm left no time for leisure activities. Yet Mary found time to devote to her Church. In Ethelbert, she became an active member of the Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church and was one of the founding members of the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League where she maintained active involvement until she became a resident of the Holy Family Nursing Home. Mary had a great sense of humour, loved to play tricks, enjoyed entertaining friends and family and was always generous with her time when it came to helping a family member, a friend, her parish and her community. In her later years Mary traveled to Europe, joined her sisters and nieces on a Caribbean cruise, visited family in Florida and eastern and western Canada, but her greatest joy was her two trips to Ukraine where she met relatives and visited the Karaim and Beyko family's ancestral home in Skala Podilska and her husband's family (Seniuk and Wolochatiuk) in Tsehany and Pereyaslav Khmelnytsky. Mary's deep faith in God and her devotion to her Church and family sustained her through life's difficult moments. Her simple, innocent and humble life endeared her to many people. Gossip was not in her vocabulary. She had great respect and love for her son-in-law Brian and her daughters-in-law Pat and Lenore and especially adored and was proud of her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. The family extends special thanks to the staff of 3A at Holy Family Nursing Home and to Dr. Babick for the compassionate care they gave our mother. Her family will miss her dearly but will remember her with fond memories. May God grant her eternal life. Vichnaya Pamyat. Parastas (funeral prayers) will be held from Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Parish, 1001 Grant Ave. at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, 2011. Divine Liturgy will be concelebrated by Father Darren Kawiuk and Reverend Father Oleg Bodnarski on Tuesday, May 10, 2011, at 10:30 a.m., at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection, 801 Jackson St., Dauphin, followed by interment at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Parish Cemetery in Ethelbert. Donations in Mary's memory may be made to the Ukrainian Catholic Religious Education Centre, 233 Scotia St., the Holy Family Nursing Home, 165 Aberdeen Ave. or to the Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Fund, in Ethelbert, MB. Sneath-Strilchuk Funeral Services 1-877-243-4459 www.sneathstrilchuk.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 07, 2011